St. Berthold of Calabria was a Norman French crusader known for establishing a hermit colony on Mount Carmel in 1185. He entered Carmelite literature in the 15th century as St. Berthold of Mount Carmel and is recognized as one of the early leaders of the Carmelite Order. Aymeric appointed him as the first superior general of the Carmelites.
During his time, Berthold dedicated himself to reforming the Christian soldiers in the region after experiencing a vision of Christ. He led the Carmelite community for an impressive forty-five years. His journey to the Holy Land was part of the Crusades, and he was present in Antioch during its siege by the Saracens. It was here that he received a vision of Christ, who condemned the soldiers' immoral behaviors.
At that time, numerous hermits from the West lived in Palestine. Berthold is believed to have arrived at Mount Carmel in 1185, where he constructed a small chapel and gathered a group of hermits to live in accordance with the example set by the prophet Elijah. While this community is thought to have contributed to the formation of the Carmelite Order, historians generally discount this claim due to a lack of supporting evidence. Berthold continued to govern the community he founded on Mount Carmel until his death in 1195.
St. Berthold of Calabria, intercede for us and guide us towards God's will.
Prepared and updated by:
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.
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